Is your baby over drooling? Does your baby keep touching his or her gums? Is your baby getting more irritable than normal?

Every baby experiences teething differently from the time their first set of teeth emerges to the types of symptoms they may have.

So when does teething usually start? It really varies from one child to another.

However, according to WebMD.com (1):

“Teething usually begins around 6 months of age. But it is normal for teething to start at any time between 3 months and 12 months of age. By the time your child is about 3 years old, he or she will have all 20 primary teeth.”

When it comes to symptoms, expect your baby to have various teething symptoms.

According to pediatrician Deb Lonzer (2), chairperson of the Department of Community Pediatrics at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital:

“No more than a third of babies have any one symptom … one-third of the kids might drool, another third might be irritable, and another third might have trouble sleeping.”

Although the teething stage could be a very difficult time for your baby, you could help ease the pain. By being aware of the teething signs, you’d know how you could comfort your little one.

Here are the 10 teething signs that you should look out for with your baby.

10. Biting and gnawing.

A teething baby will gnaw and gum-down on anything. The counter pressure from biting helps relieve the pressure from under the gums and temporarily numbs the pain. (3)

To help relieve and ease the discomfort that your baby may be experiencing, your baby may be gnawing on anything and everything that he/she can get his/her hands on.

Be it toys, the edge of the table, or the rail of the crib, everything is fair game to your baby. Teething rings can really come in very handy for your baby.

Here is another classic tell-tale sign that your baby may be teething. Get those colorful, handy bibs ready as your baby will be doing some …

9. Heavy drooling.

The byproduct of a baby’s saliva production, drooling begins when a child is about 3 months old and lasts until he’s between 12 and 15 months old – more or less the same time period as teething. Drooling is a classic symptom of your baby’s teeth gradually pushing toward the gum’s surface, a process that can start months before the first tooth’s eruption. (4)

When your baby is teething, drooling is a common occurrence as the body creates extra saliva to lubricate the tender gums. Drooling may also be worse with some babies than others.

It’s definitely a good time to have bibs handy during your baby’s drooling stage.

Expect your baby to be putting their hands in the mouth quite often.

8. Gum-rubbing or finger-chewing.

Chewing helps to relieve the pain and pressure of teething, so you may notice your baby trying to soothe herself by chewing on her fingers. Try to keep your baby’s hands clean so that she doesn’t swallow any germs. (5)

During teething, your baby’s gums become tender and sore. As a result, your baby will have the tendency to touch their gums with their fingers to soothe them.

Some parents suggest using your clean finger or a cold teething ring to rub your baby’s gums for about a minute or two to help soothe the discomfort.

Aside from placing their hands and fingers in their mouth, your baby might also be doing this next symptom. It’s not just his/her gums that your baby will be touching …

7. Cheek-rubbing and ear-pulling.

Pain in the gums may spread to the ears and cheeks, particularly when the back molars begin coming in. This is why you may see your baby rubbing his cheeks or pulling at his ears. (6)

Experts think that babies do this to create counter pressure that eases of the discomfort and pain that they may be experiencing.

It’s more of an instinctive massage reaction to ease the discomfort.

Because of the heavy drooling, expect to see some skin irritation while your baby is teething.

6. Chin or facial rash.

If your baby is a heavy drooler, the constant contact with saliva may cause the skin around the chin and mouth to become irritated. Gently wipe your baby’s mouth and chin periodically throughout the day to help prevent chapped skin and rashes. (7)

The folks at WhatToExpect.com (8) suggest the following remedy:

“Patting away the drool will help prevent the rash. You can also create a moisture barrier with Vaseline or Aquaphor, and moisturize with a gentle unscented skin cream as needed. Have some nipple cream (like Lansinoh) on hand? It’s great for protecting tender baby skin, too.”

Because of the discomfort as a result of teething, mood swings may be quite an occurrence. Be a little patient as your baby may be showing a little bit of crankiness and grumpiness.

Don’t be surprised if your baby shows signs of …

5. Irritability and fussiness.

Your baby’s mouth will ache as that little tooth presses on the gums and pokes up to the surface, and, not surprisingly, it’ll probably make her feel out of sorts. Some babies may be irritable for just a few hours, but others can stay crabby for days or even weeks. (9)

As baby teeth starts to come out of the gums, your baby’s gums may become increasingly sore and uncomfortable. Hence, this may lead to fussiness and crying.

Just do your best to comfort them and give them some extra loving care.

If a baby’s gums are causing some (or a lot of) discomfort, don’t be surprised with this …

4. Decreased appetite or refusal to feed.

Uncomfortable, cranky babies yearn to be soothed by something in their mouths — whether a bottle or the breast. But the suction of nursing may make a teething baby’s sore gums feel worse. For that reason, teething babies are fussy about feedings (and get more frustrated as neither their discomfort nor their hungry tummies find relief). Babies eating solid foods may also refuse to eat during teething. (10)

Try to keep feeding your baby during regular meal times. If your baby appears hungry in-between meals, you can offer him/her something too just so your baby gets nourishment.

Now if your baby still keeps refusing to eat, call your pediatrician.

A lot of parents have observed this next symptom while studies have shown mixed results regarding this particular symptom. Just keep a close watch on your baby when he or she has a stuffy nose.

3. Cold-like symptoms.

Some experts believe teething can cause a slight runny nose and a minimal cough, but others say these symptoms are more likely due to the common cold. All agree that serious coughing and congestion signal a bona fide illness — and are not the result of teething. (11)

Some experts think that cold-like symptoms in teething babies may be a result of a baby’s attempt to alleviate pain by frequently putting their hands in their mouth or start chewing on their toys. These then exposes the baby to more germs, which results in colds.

Just make sure to notify and consult with your doctor if symptoms occur for more than two days.

Is your baby no longer sleeping like an angel? If yes, then your baby may be teething if he or she has been exhibiting these lately …

2. Wakefulness or not sleeping well.

Tooth eruption — when the tooth moves through the bone and gum — tends to come in stages, with more activity at night than during the day, so your baby may be more irritable then. (12)

When your baby is teething, you might observe that he/she may be waking up more often during the night. Some parents have also observed that babies tend to wake up more often when their molars start coming out. You may also find that your baby will tend to nap less and wake up earlier in the morning.

Lastly, the jury is still out on this next symptom.

There remains some conflicting evidence on whether low-grade fever can be significantly associated with teething.

1. Low-grade fever.

This is another sign doctors are sometimes hesitant to directly link with teething. Many parents, however, find their babies get low-grade fevers while teething. Notify your doctor if the temperature rises above 102 degrees F, or if the temperature remains elevated for more than two days. (13)

According to a study on the American Academy of Pediatrics mild temperature elevation is statistically associated with teething (14). However, another study (15) on its site finds that fever is not a normal teething symptom.

As a precaution, if your baby’s temperature remains elevated for more than two days, consult your pediatrician. Kevin Hale (16), a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry says:

“Don’t assume that a fever is caused by teething, because there could be other things going on.”

What about diarrhea?

Although a lot of people think diarrhea is related to teething, there appears to be no scientific and statistical evidence (17) to support this. Some people think that the most likely cause of diarrhea during teething is extra saliva swallowed, which then loosens the stool. However, a more likely explanation is as follows:

“… during teething, the child begins to chew on any object or toy lying around. They even suck their fingers, thumbs and hands due to gum irritation. As the immunity levels are low, bacteria and viruses present on the surface of these objects get an entry directly into the body from the mouth. The body cannot fight off the bacteria or viruses and the result is a gastrointestinal upset, that is, diarrhea.” (18)

Please take note: In the event that your little one has a fever or a runny nose, do not simply dismiss these as signs of teething, especially if the symptoms last longer than 24 hours. Call or visit your baby’s pediatrician to rule out anything more serious.

It also helps to know more about your family’s teething history. If you had teethed early, your little one is most likely to follow suit as well. Keeping in mind your family’s dental history can help you anticipate the teething phase of your baby.

Teething is milestone in your baby’s life. However, it can make your baby very uncomfortable. There will be a lot of crying but you’ll survive it. Once you are able to identify the signs of teething, you can easily calm your baby down.

The symptoms of teething list presented were compiled based on a study presented on Pediatrics (19), which is the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

WebMD (20) recommends the following tips to help your baby feel better while teething:

– Use a clean finger (or cold teething ring) to gently rub your baby’s gum for about 2 minutes at a time. Many babies find this soothing, although they may protest at first.

– Provide safe objects for your baby to chew on, such as teething rings.

– If needed, give your baby an over-the-counter pain reliever that is labeled for his or her specific age. Read and follow all instructions. Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than 20, because it has been linked to Reye syndrome, a rare but serious disease.

Let’s help babies who are teething. Please share this with family and friends whose baby may be going through this very uncomfortable stage.

Can you think of other signs that a baby is teething already?

The post 10 Teething Signs To Look Out For With Your Baby. Keep A Close Watch On #4, #3, and #1 appeared first on Oh My Parenting.

The next time you go to the grocery store or supermarket, look around you. Chances are you will find someone with their baby car seat on a shopping cart.

This is, in fact, very dangerous. It’s something that not a lot of parents know about.

Just the other day, I came across three different instances in a supermarket.

The thing is, supermarket carts have clear warning signs about not doing this. Unfortunately, this is simply ignored.

Surely, it’s convenient. However, is it safe? It definitely is NOT.

I’m sure someone is bound to say:

“I have always done that and nothing bad has ever happened. Besides, other people do it too so I don’t see anything wrong with it.”

Is putting a baby’s in harm’s way a risk worth taking?

Take a pause. Think about it.

A study conducted by researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital has this to say:

“Although a voluntary shopping cart safety standard was implemented in the United States in 2004, the overall number and rate of injuries to children associated with shopping carts have not decreased. In fact, the number and rate of concussions/closed head injuries have continued to climb …”

Even the American Academy of Pediatrics highly recommends not to place baby car seats on shopping carts due to the potential dangers associated with the practice.

With that, here are the 6 top reasons why placing a car seat on a shopping cart is a bad idea.

6. Too many innocent children are getting injured.

The unfortunate reality is that accidents involving car seats on shopping carts really do happen.

In fact, shopping carts are the leading cause of head injuries among young kids:

“According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), shopping carts are the leading cause of head injuries in young children – surpassing injuries from high chairs, strollers, changing tables, baby gates and other equipment. The CPSC estimates that about 16,000 children under the age of five fall out of shopping carts each year and nearly 1,000 of those injuries involve falling infant carriers.” (1)

In addition, the Huffington Post cited the following stats:

“Between 1990 and 2011, 530,494 children had to go to the hospital because of a shopping cart-related injury — which averages out to more than 24,000 children injured a year, or 66 children injured each day.” (2)

This means that 1 child every 22 minutes is treated in an emergency department for injuries related to a shopping cart accident (3).

Furthermore, these injuries can be severe or even deadly. Most injuries, about 70.4%, are caused by falls from the cart or by the cart tipping over (4).

The number of concussion-related injuries was significantly high. Most of these shopping cart injuries are unfortunately serious …

5. Head injuries accounted for 78.1% of the most commonly injured body region.

Most of these head injuries were associated with children ages 0 to 4 years, in other words … infants and toddlers.

In fact, the number of head injuries has been increasing:

“While soft tissue injuries were the most common diagnosis for these head injuries, the annual rate of concussions and closed head injuries (which are concussions and internal head injuries) increased significantly by more than 200% during the study period, with the number of these injuries going from 3,483 injuries in 1990 to 12,333 in 2011. Most of this increase was associated with children ages 0 to 4 years.” (5)

In a report by Action News 4, the children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh revealed that 80% of the children coming to the hospital with shopping cart-related problems primarily had head injuries. (6)

A lot of people think that car seats are designed also for the purpose of locking onto shopping carts. However …

Here is something most people do not know about car seats:

4. Baby car seats are NOT designed to be secured on top of shopping carts.

In fact, most shopping carts that you find in grocery stores and supermarkets have warnings saying that baby car seats should not be placed on top of shopping carts.

Unfortunately, no one appears to be reading or paying attention to them …

… even when the sign is right down in front of them as they put the carrier on the cart.

The big “Warning” sign is right there. If folks will just take time to read them.

And for those who read them, they seem not to take the warning seriously … until something tragic happens.

“Most car seat manufacturers specifically prohibit using their seats this way but that warning is usually buried along with 30 other generic warnings in the instruction manual so it doesn’t get much attention.” (7)

Safety experts have time and again explained this but this message seems to be ignored.

According to safety expert Debra Holtzman:

3. Shopping carts can tip over easily — and they’re more likely to if there’s a car seat mounted on them.

Holtzman, who is also the author of The Safe Baby, adds:

“The cart has a narrow wheel base in relation to its height, so the center of gravity is affected when you put a child in it. When your child’s car seat is on top of it, the center of gravity is affected even more, increasing the chances of tipping.” (8)

Did you know that it does not take much weight to tip over a cart?

“Safety experts say when kids are strapped inside a shopping cart it raises the center of gravity of the cart. As little as ten pounds can tip it over.” (9)

Accidents happen and they do often within seconds … most especially when shopping carts tip over. Within seconds, your life can change completely.

Here is one mom’s account of a shopping cart that tipped over with her 10 month-old baby:

“She flipped the whole cart over while still buckled just because I’d taken the groceries out. It was empty, and that makes it light enough that she can flip it. That’s not good … It happened so fast and the fact that she was able to flip it with her own body weight because it was empty … I’m really concerned those carts aren’t as sturdy as they need to be.”

Tragic stories from car seat on shopping cart accidents are real. Here is the heartbreaking fact …

2. Babies have died from head injuries as a result of their car seats falling off a shopping cart.

The sad truth is that …

“Any injury or even DEATH (Yes. Babies have died from head injuries due to their carriers falling off the shopping cart) that has come from a carrier falling off the top of a cart is 100% preventable.” (10)

It has happened before and it can happen again.

“A three-month-old boy has died after he fell from a shopping cart as it was pushed over a speed bump. James Anderson Berg died after the car seat he was sat in toppled from the top of the cart in a Kroger parking lot in Macon, Atlanta.” (11)

You can read the comments section on our Facebook page and you will see a lot of people saying that they have witnessed horrible incidents of carriers just falling off shopping carts with the babies getting seriously injured.

Having experienced seeing these firsthand is just something that they simply cannot get our of their minds.

It’s just really sad.

Finally …

Tragedies are preventable.

1. One child death is too much, too many.

Let’s put a stop to this. Fatalities and serious injuries from car seat-shopping cart accidents are REAL.

So parents, please take this seriously and protect your baby. Save yourself, your family, and your friends from grief with having to deal with a heartbreaking and tragic accident.

There are many options available.

Just DON’T place the baby car seat on top of the shopping cart.

Instead of placing the car seat on the shopping cart, a lot of moms opt to use baby carriers or wraps such as the ones shown below:

Even the American Academy of Pediatrics highly recommends NOT to place car seats on shopping carts and suggests the following options for parents (12):

– Get another adult to come with you to watch your child while you shop.

– Put your child in a stroller or wagon instead of in a shopping cart.

– Wear a baby carrier or sling.

– Ask your older child to walk and praise him or her for behaving and staying near you.

– Leave your child at home with another adult while you shop.

– Shop online if your store offers shopping on the Internet.

– Never leave your child alone in a shopping cart.

– Do not let your child stand up in a shopping cart.

– Do not allow an older child to climb on the cart or push the cart with another child in it, because it is very easy for a child to tip the cart over.

Please share this article with family and friends who have babies and toddlers.

Let’s do our part in preventing another child from getting seriously hurt, or at worst, getting killed.

Would you still be willing to take a risk of your child falling from a shopping cart?

The post 6 Top Reasons “Car Seat On The Shopping Cart” Is A BAD Idea. #2 Is Heartbreaking appeared first on Oh My Parenting.

Every parent, sooner or later, will experience a child having a major meltdown. It’s not the best situation to be in. I can tell you that from my personal experience. Our little cute and sweet toddler can become that little monster having a hissy fit and make a major public scene that will make you wish to crawl under a table.

Have no fear, my fellow parents as we have some smart and quick fixes for you.

But first, you must understand what causes temper tantrums in order for you to get that edge when you are put in this potentially embarrassing situation.

Here are some of the major reasons your child may be having a tantrum from hell (1):

1. Toddlers can’t express themselves very well. Your 2- or 3-year-old may know a lot of words, but he doesn’t yet have the ability to construct complex sentences—or put words to all the emotions he’s feeling.

2. They are easily overwhelmed. Toddlers thrive on routine, and a change can really throw them off.

3. They want to do more than they can handle. Toddlers are naturally very curious—and are thrilled to discover they can suddenly do so many things on their own.

4. They don’t understand delayed gratification. Little kids live in the here and now, not in our cookies-are-for-after-dinner world. Not getting what they want, when they want it, is a top tantrum producer.

5. They think they’re the center of the universe. In the me-me-me life of a toddler, no one else’s needs matter as much as his own. That’s why sharing is so difficult.

Now that you have a better understanding of why toddlers are prone to having meltdowns, having an arsenal of strategies on how to deal with tantrums can certainly be very helpful.

Here is the list of the 10 smart ways to tame your child’s tantrum from hell:

10. Ignore the Kid.

The reason this works is fascinating: “During a tantrum, your child is literally out of his mind. His emotions take over — overriding the frontal cortex of the brain, the area that makes decisions and judgments,” says Jay Hoecker, MD, a Rochester, Minnesota, pediatrician. “That’s why reasoning doesn’t help — the reasoning part of his brain isn’t working … Once he chills out, then you can talk.” (2)

Some moms say that if you do not react to a toddler’s tantrum, the child may just give up. Put them in bed as eventually they tire and fall asleep.

A lot of moms swear by this and say it works.

If things are too much for your child to process, you might like to do this next one.

Just like us, if things get to be too overwhelming, we usually ask for space.

9. Give Your Child Some Space.

“Sometimes a kid just needs to get his anger out. So let him!” says Linda Pearson, a nurse practitioner and author of The Discipline Miracle. (Just make sure there’s nothing in tantrum’s way that could hurt him.) “I’m a big believer in this approach because it helps children learn how to vent in a nondestructive way.” (3)

If you are at home and your child is in a safe environment, just let him vent and tire himself out.

If your child is too focused on what is bugging him or her, maybe you might like to change your child’s attention.

Sometimes a little diversion does the trick.

8. Create a Diversion.

This is all about a deft mental switcheroo — getting your kid engaged and interested in something else so she forgets about the meltdown she was just having. “My purse is filled with all sorts of distractions, like toys — ones my kids haven’t seen in a while, books, and yummy snacks,” says Alisa Fitzgerald, a mom of two from Boxford, Massachusetts. Whenever a tantrum happens, she busts ’em out, one at a time, until something gets the kids’ attention. (4)

Giving your child something else to think about takes her attention away from the initial focus of energy.

Some moms have found success by simply diverting that focus by also starting a conversation about something that really interests their child.

Remember that your toddler’s vocabulary is still very limited so you might like to try the next option. It might help clear the situation better by asking your child questions.

7. Find Out What’s Really Frustrating Your Kid.

This trick is for tantrums among the under-2-and-a-half set, says Dr. Hoecker. “Children this age usually have a vocabulary of only about 50 words and can’t link more than two together at a time. Their communication is limited, yet they have all these thoughts and wishes and needs to be met.” (5)

Just be patient and start a conversation to find out exactly what is bugging your child.

Even with toddlers, communication and patience can help avert a tantrum from escalating.

Another way to pacify your kid would be to show a little bit of loving. Show your child a little bit more of love by giving …

6. Hugs.

“This may feel like the last thing you want to do when your kid is freaking out, but it really can help her settle down.” Ray Levy, PhD, a Dallas-based clinical psychologist and co-author of Try and Make Me! Simple Strategies That Turn Off the Tantrums and Create Cooperation says. “I’m talking about a big, firm hug, not a super cuddly one. And don’t say a word when you do it — again, you’d just be entering into a futile battle of wills. Hugs make kids feel secure and let them know that you care about them, even if you don’t agree with their behavior.” (6)

A simple hug can do wonders. It can change the dynamics of the situation.

Try it next time and see for yourself how this does wonders.

You might be surprised by these two tantrum triggers … Feeling tired and hungry usually brings out the beast in us. It also applies to our little cuties.

5. Offer Food or Suggest a Little R&R.

“Being tired and hungry are the two biggest tantrum triggers,” says Levy. Physically, the kid is already on the brink, so it won’t take much emotionally to send him over. “Parents often come to me wondering why their child is having daily meltdowns. And it turns out they’re happening around the same time each day — before lunch or naptime and in the early evening. It’s no coincidence! My advice: feed them, water them, and let them veg — whether that means putting them to bed or letting them watch a little TV.” (7)

With my little one, this usually is the case. We found out that my toddler gets really testy when she is hungry.

So whenever she gets into the testy mode, I give her some healthy snack and that usually pacifies her and brings her back to her usual happy, normal behavior.

Remember when your parents used to reward you when you were a child for good behavior?

Bribing, ahem, I mean rewarding your child still works so don’t forget to use this.

4. Give Your Kid Incentive to Behave.

Certain situations are trying for kids. Maybe it’s sitting through a long meal at a restaurant or staying quiet in church. Whatever the hissy hot button, this is the trick: “It’s about recognizing when you’re asking a lot of your child and offering him a little preemptive bribe. While you’re on your way to the restaurant, for example, tell him, ‘Alex, Mommy is asking you to sit and eat your dinner nicely tonight. I really think you can do it! And if you can behave, then when we get home I’ll let you watch a video.'” (8)

A lot of toddlers respond to positive reinforcement and rewards.

Just make sure you reward for good behavior and not bad ones though.

How does a hostage negotiator usually diffuse a tense situation? Keeping your cool and speaking calmly can help diffuse a major tantrum situation.

3. Speak Calmly.

This is a biggie — and is much easier said than done. But experts insist you must keep your cool during a child’s tantrum. “Otherwise, you’ll get into a power struggle and make the whole thing escalate. Plus, part of the reason kids resort to tantrums is to get attention,” Dr. Hoecker says. (9)

Look them in the eye and calmly talk with them to find out what is bothering them. Set an example for your kid and calmly talk the situation through.

Again, exercise patience and try to get your child to communicate with you.

Want to maintain a sense of sanity to a very public meltdown of your child? Having a sense of humor can also do the trick in diffusing a meltdown situation.

2. Laugh It Off.

Every parent dreads public tantrums, for obvious reasons. You worry other parents will think you’re a bad mom — that you’ve raised an out-of-control demon child. Your best bet, is to suck it up, plaster a little Mona Lisa smile on your face, and pretend everything is just peachy. And what are others thinking? “We know from studies that the only thing people judge is your reaction to the meltdown,” says Levy. “If you look calm and like you’ve got it under control — yes, even though you’re not doing anything to stop the fit — they think, Now that’s a good mom.” (10)

Try being silly with your child. That kind of distraction can direct his attention on you and can possibly bust that tantrum.

Try to get your child to giggle and see how this can change the whole dynamics of the situation.

Here’s another way of distracting your child and getting his or her attention into something else … Just leaving the scene of a meltdown can divert a child’s attention. It’s also very easy to do.

1. Get Out of There.

Getting kids away from the scene of the tantrum can snap them out of it. “It’s also a great strategy when you’re out and about,” says Levy. “If your child starts melting down over a toy or candy bar he wants, pick him up and take him either to a different area of the store or outside until he calms down. Changing the venue really can change the behavior.” (11)

The next time you feel the urge to spank your little one as a result of a tantrum going out of control, remind yourself to first stop and give it some thought. Don’t make a fuss out of it and model calm behavior.

Spanking is not a smart way to deal with a child having a tantrum. Spanking only reinforces with your kid that using physical force is okay cause their parents are doing it. It teaches the child to be afraid of his or her parents. It teaches the child that his or her parents will hurt them to keep them in line.

Instead, try using any of the above 10 ways to help pacify your child. These are better solutions that will positively impact your child in the long-term. In fact, here are 8 important reasons why you should not spank your child.

You can read more details about this well researched article by Shaun Dreisbach about how to deal with a child’s tantrums on parents.com.

Do you have other smart ways of dealing with a child’s tantrum?

The post 10 Smart Ways To Tame Your Child’s “Tantrum From Hell”. #5 Is Something I Swear By appeared first on Oh My Parenting.

Were you spanked as a young child by your parents as a way to discipline you? Did it reform your behavior? Did it make you a better person or did it bring about feelings of resentment and anger?

These days, there remains a great divide among parents on whether parents should spank their kids. Here in the U.S. for example, even though spanking has become less popular over time, most polls still show parents favor and approve of spanking their children.

An ABC poll found that:

“Sixty-five percent of Americans approve of spanking children, a rate that has been steady since 1990 … Among parents with minor children at home, 50 percent report that they sometimes spank their child, while 45 percent do not.”

I happen to have grown-up in an age where spanking a child was okay. Yup, I was spanked and I hated it. I swore that my child would never have to go through such an unfortunate experience. Now in her teens, she has turned out to be a loving, well-behaved, responsible, and happy kid — a product of a no spanking household policy.

According to a study published in the Journal of American Academy of Pediatrics, there are serious consequences to applying physical punishment to kids.

“Harsh physical punishment was associated with increased odds of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, alcohol and drug abuse/dependence, and several personality disorders in 2% to 7% of those observed.”

Lina Acosta Sandaal, an expert in child and adolescent development and infant and early childhood mental health, has this to say about spanking:

“The statistics and multiple negative outcomes of children that are disciplined with corporal punishment are well known to those who work with children. Children’s Trends, a research group, found that corporal punishment increases negative outcomes in adolescence like low academic achievement, alcohol and drug use, and antisocial behavior. They also found that the older the age of the child, the greater the negative outcomes.” Source: GoodMenProject.com

With that, check out the list of 8 vital reasons why you should not spank your child.

8. It is too easy for a frustrated parent to cross the line from spanking to abusing.

Unfortunately, by the time the smoke clears, many parents have crossed the line from spanking to hitting, shaking, slapping and other forms of child abuse. Source: ActiveParenting.com

This is the reason why parents who advocate spanking suggest to NEVER spank your child when you are angry. Some parents suggest to calm down first and not spank when your emotions are high.

Of course, when you have calmed down, you probably have by then thought of a better approach to handle the situation than spanking.

We all want our child to build self-confidence. However, Spanking goes counter to helping your child build self-confidence.

7. Spanking makes a child feel helpless and damages self-esteem.

It’s hard to feel like you have any control when you are told that if you don’t stop crying, you will be hit again. It makes a child ask, “What is wrong with me?” It’s hard to feel loved or have any self-worth when even your cries for help are demeaned by the person who is supposed to unconditionally love and protect you. It’s a betrayal. Source: SheKnows.com

When kids get very emotional, crying is their way of dealing with hurt and pain. Sometimes it takes time for a crying child (especially toddlers) to really calm down. However, some parents really go overboard with spanking, thinking that the threat of more spanking can stop all the crying.

Again, it is best for parents to calm down and try to work out the issue without further spanking.

Young children tend to model after their parents’ way of doing things.

Any aggressive behavior by a parent on a child might be misunderstood by a child as something that is okay to do to others.

6. Spanking teaches aggressive behavior.

Kids who are spanked learn to handle some problems by hitting or threatening to hit. Others find that their parents are too big to get even with, so they take it out on other kids. Source: ActiveParenting.com

Toddlers are very impressionable. They tend to copy other people’s actions without fully comprehending the reasons for such actions.

According to parenting expert Dr. Michael Popkin:

“We have to teach children that violence is only OK as a measure of restrained self-defense and never a way to “punish” others for misbehavior.”

By doing so, young children will learn to understand that it is not okay to hit others to resolve conflicts.

Sure, spanking might solve the issue with the child at that particular time. However, a child’s feelings of resentment may lead to more misbehaving just to spite a parent to get even.

5. Spanking usually leads to more misbehavior.

The problem with spanking is that it does work … for the immediate misbehavior. Kids will “stop it this instant!” However, they also resent the spanking and seek out conscious or unconscious ways to get even. Source: ActiveParenting.com

A study featured on Journal of Youth and Adolescence found that:

“… children who acted out more often got spankings that led to more acting out and, in turn, resulted in more spankings.”

In fact, researchers of the study discovered even stronger evidence that spanking children before the age 1 year may be a “catalyst that starts the cycle.”

Building a close and loving relationship with our child is something we strive for.

Did you know that hitting a child does not help build a stronger relationship between you and your child?

4. Spanking can damage your relationship with your child.

Spanking puts an emotional wedge between parent and child. Children depend on their parents to care for them. They trust them and their authority. Authority based on fear makes children lose respect for parents. It is hard to respect someone that hurts you. Source: FamiliesOnTheGo.com

According to Dr. Michael Popkin, author of the best-selling parenting book Active Parenting:

“When you spank often, you create a climate of hurt and revenge that undermines much of the good in the relationship. You may be able to overcome this, but why take the chance when there are better methods available?”

Some parents have felt this emotion after giving their kids some spanking. In fact, parents have felt some guilt that they may have gone overboard with their disciplinary action.

3. Spanking often leaves the parent feeling guilty.

Most parents are aware that spanking is now a controversial parenting method. Even the American Academy of Pediatrics has come out against spanking. But even before this, many parents could sense that something was not right about hurting a child “for his own good,” and feel guilty afterwards. Source: ActiveParenting.com

Any parent who loves their child dearly is bound to also feel the hurt and guilt after spanking their child. As parents, we need to have confidence in our parenting methods.

If your approach to resolving an issue with your child brings about feelings of guilt, then you might like to look into better approaches of discipline or resolving issues that you will have more confidence in.

Frequent spanking has been found to cause this potentially troublesome long-term effect

It has been found that there is a direct correlation between mental illness and high incidences of childhood spanking.

2. Spanking can increase the likelihood of developing mental health symptoms.

According to this study, links have been found from later mental health diagnoses to higher incidents of childhood spanking for disciplinary purposes. I am willing to bet that when spanking your child, your intention wasn’t to create long-term psychological problems. Source: PsychCentral.com

Michele Knox, a psychiatrist who studies family and youth violence at the University of Toledo College of Medicine agrees with those findings.

Dr. Knox says:

“Spanking and other forms of corporal punishment have a huge variety of negative outcomes, and almost no positive outcomes. Those negative outcomes include aggressive behavior and delinquency in kids.”

Furthermore, research studies have found that harsh physical punishment in the absence of child maltreatment can also be associated with the following:

1. mood disorders
2. anxiety disorders
3. substance abuse/dependence; and
4. personality disorders

These research findings surely are worth thinking about as your child’s future may depend on how you instill discipline with them now.

If you think giving your child some whooping is the ultimate answer to misbehaving, think again.

Spanking is not the answer as there are other ways for you to deal with a misbehaving child.

1. There are many more effective methods of discipline.

The bottom line in all of this is that there are better ways to discipline kids in our modern society — methods such as polite requests, “I” messages, firm reminders, logical consequences, active problem-solving … These methods not only solve behavior problems but also help build such qualities of character as responsibility, cooperation, courage, respect and even self-esteem. Source: ActiveParenting.com

According to Dr. Bryan Carter, Ph.D., a pediatric psychologist and professor in the U of L Department of Pediatrics/Bingham Clinic, and director of the Pediatric Consultation Service at Kosair Children’s Hospital:

“While spanking may give the child a signal as to what NOT to do, it fails to teach the important skills of problem solving and decision making, that is, what TO DO.”

The above are just some of the few reasons why I don’t spank my child. I also think that you should not either.

There are much better ways to discipline a child which do not involve any form of physical harm. You can check them out here.

If you by any chance have the urge to spank your child, please pause and give it some serious thought. I’m sure you can do a better job of parenting your child without any form of spanking.

If you agree with this article, please do feel free to pass this along and let other parents know why spanking is not a solution for disciplining a misbehaving child.

What’s your position on spanking? Is this an acceptable form of discipline or not?

The post 8 Important Reasons Why You Should Not Spank Your Child. #2 Will Make You Think Twice appeared first on Oh My Parenting.

Parents, please pay attention. In the interest of your child’s safety, there are certain common practices that you should be aware of that could potentially be harmful to your little one.

Just because a lot of parents are still doing it around you does not make it safe or right.

There is a good chance that you may be guilty of doing one of these things. I know I am. I’m just glad that nothing unfortunate happened to my child.

So to keep your child from having some unfortunate serious injuries or health problems, we thought that it was important to share this list of things that parents should not be doing to their child.

This list was put together just to inform parents who may not be aware that what they are doing may not be safe for their children. As one appreciative parent said:

I’m glad I came across your article. Now that I’m aware, I certainly would not be doing some of these and risking my child’s life. Thank you.

Sometimes, parents may also make bad decisions to save time or because making the extra effort appears to be inconvenient. However, doing so may come at the expense of a child’s safety.

Below is the list of 10 common yet unsafe things that parents should stop doing:

10. Putting car seats on top of shopping carts.

Shopping carts are not made to hold an infant car seat safely. Car seat manufacturers warn against putting them on top of shopping carts. Source: mom.me

Surely, it’s convenient. However, is it safe? It definitely is NOT. The unfortunate reality is that accidents involving car seats on shopping carts really do happen.

“According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), shopping carts are the leading cause of head injuries in young children – surpassing injuries from high chairs, strollers, changing tables, baby gates and other equipment. The CPSC estimates that about 16,000 children under the age of five fall out of shopping carts each year and nearly 1,000 of those injuries involve falling infant carriers.” Source: GreenChildMagazine.com

Baby car seats are NOT designed to be secured on top of shopping carts.

Furthermore, shopping carts can tip over easily — and they’re more likely to if there’s a car seat mounted on them. See 6 Top Reasons “Car Seat On The Shopping Cart” Is A BAD Idea for details.

You would think that parents would take extra care to never leave their kids all alone, especially babies in the car. Unfortunately, in spite of numerous tragic stories that we hear in the news, parents still do this:

9. Leaving kids in the car.

We’ve all heard the tragic news stories of babies dying from heat because they were left in a hot car. But heat is not the only danger. No matter their age, children should not be left unattended in a vehicle. Source: mom.me

How could someone forget a child in a car? To forget a child in a hot car is preventable. Yet, every year, we always read or hear about heartbreaking and tragic stories of babies and toddlers who died as a result of their parents forgetting them in their cars.

In fact, heat stroke deaths of children forgotten in the car number to around 30 to 50 a year, or 38 a year on average, according to KidsAndCars.org, a nonprofit safety organization.

Certain over-the-counter drugs are not supposed to be given to babies.

However, some parents still drug their babies to sleep. If you want to make your baby fall asleep, try this instead.

8. Giving babies Benadryl in hopes of a better night’s sleep.

Benadryl isn’t meant to be given as a sedative. It can be dangerous. And sometimes, your child can have an adverse reaction to it. Source: mom.me

According to Pediatrics expert Dr. Vincent Iannelli:

“While it might seem like a quick and easy solution to potential problems you might have when flying with young kids, most pediatricians try to discourage parents from giving kids anything to sedate them on an airplane.”

Dr. Iannelli also added that:

“The benefits usually don’t outweigh the risks … The sedative effects of Benadryl may last a good 4 to 6 hours, which may be longer than your flight, and even after your child wakes up, he may be drowsy or groggy for several hours afterward. So even if he sleeps on the flight, you might end up with a fussy and irritable child afterward.”

You might love StarBucks, but starting kids on this is something you should not do. Believe it or not, getting kids “caffeinated” is an increasing trend these days, according to a study by the Boston Medical Center.

7. Giving young children coffee.

Children who consume caffeine can suffer from several negative side effects such as slowed heart rate, high blood pressure, difficulty concentrating, difficulty sleeping, and more. Source: mom.me

The study by the Boston Medical Center looked at 315 moms and toddlers in the Boston area. Researchers were surprised to find that many moms were giving their babies coffee.

Caffeine is a stimulant. Caffeine consumption in kids has been found to cause children to sleep less. As we know, sleep is important for a child’s development and growth, especially at such a very young age. Some other adverse effects of caffeine on kids are jitteriness, nervousness, increased heart rate, and increased blood pressure, among others.

Eventually, you will need to sleep-train your kid. However, some parents think locking their kid’s door is the answer. However, this could potentially have some serious safety repercussions.

6. Locking kids in their room while sleep training.

DON’T. I can’t think of anything more dangerous than a kid not being able to get out of their bedroom. If there was a fire or some other emergency, children need to be able to open their bedroom doors. Source: mom.me

Instead of locking your child in, this mom suggests this instead:

“Locks don’t belong on a child’s door. They belong to the things children shouldn’t have access to. Medication should always be kept in a locked box and then stored out of reach (like above the refrigerator). Lock the outside doors. Lock the basement door. Lock the bathroom door. I once knew a family that had double baby gates (one stacked above the other) on their kitchen entrance … I’d consider a door alarm, but not locking a child in.”

Of course, you would like to keep your kids warm especially when the weather is cold. However, keep in mind that you should not do this next practice. Time and again, parents are guilty of this, especially when they are in a hurry getting in and out of their vehicles.

5. Letting kids wear puffy winter coats in the car.

When the harness isn’t snug and tight, next to the child, it puts them at risk for being ejected from the car seat during an accident. Source: mom.me

When your child has a puffy winter coat on, the car seat harness won’t be snug and tight. This therefore puts them at risk of being ejected from the car seat if an accident occurs. Some people might find this hard to believe. The truth of the matter is that it really can happen.

Still not convinced? Check out this video to see how dangerous this can be.

Going to the mall with your baby is a great way to unwind. However, make sure that you don’t do this next thing.

A lot of parents still ignore signs warning about the dangers of using strollers on escalators.

4. Putting the stroller on the escalator.

It’s just dangerous. Instead, fold your stroller up and carry it while you ride, or better yet, take an elevator. Source: mom.me

There are very real dangers to boarding strollers on escalators such as this story, where a small child fell from a stroller while on the escalator.

“A 2006 study on Pediatrics regarding escalator injuries found that there were “disproportionate amount of escalator related injuries in children who were younger than 5 years of age.” … The study found that 6% of injuries in this age group were from a stroller, usually from falling out of the stroller.” Source: PediatricsNow.com

Simply take the extra time to use the elevator with your stroller as opposed to the escalator.

Bouncers and car seats are not meant to be placed in these areas. Parents should not ignore the dangers of the common practice of …

3. Putting Bumbos, bouncers, and car seats on high surfaces.

These items do not belong on high surfaces. There have been too many accidents related to falls. Instead, keep them on the floor where they belong. Source: mom.me

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reported at least 28 incidents of babies falling out of Bumbo seats with three of the cases resulting in skull fractures. CPSC Senior spokesperson Julie Vallese said:

“The reports of serious head injuries prompted the CPSC to announce a nationwide warning to consumers that have these — not to put these on elevated surfaces and be aware that children can climb out of them or they can tip over in these chairs.”

One of the more serious incidents involving a Bumbo seat was baby Dylan Lamm.

“Dylan had arched his back and tilted the Bumbo Seat, causing him to fall backward and onto the kitchen floor. His skull cracked in two places. An emergency surgery saved Dylan’s life, leaving a long scar on his head.”

Buckling up a child in a car is important. Unfortunately, some parents do not strictly adhere to such practices at home. A study found that about 24 children a day are treated in U.S. emergency rooms for high chair-related injuries.

2. Not buckling kiddos into strollers, high chairs, etc.

Even if it seems unnecessary, always buckle your child into these things. Every year, there are countless accidents because children are not properly buckled in. Source: mom.me

A study by researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital examined U.S. Emergency Department data pertaining to the treatment of children ages 3 years and younger and found that:

“On average, more than 9,400 children were treated each year for an injury associated with a high chair or booster seat, equaling one child every hour nationally. In addition, the annual number of injured children increased during the study period.” Source: NationwideChildrens.org

Lastly, here’s something that is quite surprising …

You will be surprised that some parents remain complacent or naive about their homes when it comes to safety. It is really important that you baby-proof your home to keep your child safe as unintentional injury is one of the top killers of children in the U.S.

1. Not babyproofing.

Cover your outlets. Lock cabinets. Gate your stairs. Remove anything that could cause strangulation. Put medicines cleaning supplies and other harmful substances far out of the baby’s reach. Source: mom.me

Believe it or not, your home can be one of the biggest threats to your child’s safety. Child safety experts agree that baby-proofing your home gives your baby a safe environment to play and explore while preventing potentially serious injuries.

“Experts say that children between the ages of 1 and 4 are more likely to be killed by fire, burns, drowning, choking, poisoning, or falls than by a stranger’s violence … About 2.3 million children are accidentally injured every year and more than 2,500 are killed, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.” Source: BabyCenter.com

Just don’t take baby-proofing for granted. It should only take you several hours in total. By doing so, you’ll have peace of mind and a home that is safe for your baby.

To learn more details about this great list of safety reminders that Lacy Stroessner of mom.me put together, you can read the full article here.

Please share this article with family and friends to keep your precious babies and toddlers safe from harm.

So which of these things are you guilty of doing?

The post 10 Common Yet UNSAFE Things That Parents Should Stop Doing. I Was Guilty Of Some Of These Too 😔 appeared first on Oh My Parenting.

When it comes to the safety of your kids, it’s never enough to be told once. Come to think of it, it’s not even enough to be told twice.

So proud mamas, please take note of this. You’ve probably heard it before, but it wouldn’t hurt to be reminded of it again.

When it comes to sharing information about your kids, you’re all for it. Nothing will stop you from doing it. After all, sharing “too much information” or “TMI” for short is something every proud mom is guilty of doing.

I was guilty of TMI too. LOL

Thanks to social media, sharing TMI has become way too easy. These days, there’s such thing as digital TMI. Photos of kids are posted and shared liberally on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and whatever social network or app your heart desires.

With many parents wanting to show family and friends how great their kids are, it is no surprise that some parents are oversharing at the expense of privacy and online safety. The University of Michigan study found that:

“While 67% of parents said social media helped them learn from other parents, many also had safety concerns about sharing too much.”

There’s no doubt that photos of kids are always cute and endearing but you need to be careful. Amid your eagerness to share, you might just be endangering your kids or somebody else’s kids.

So the next time you’re tempted to post a photo online, think about it. Take a good look at the photo because 6 types of kids’ photos should never be posted online.

Below are the 6 types of photos that parents should never post online:

6. Photos of Other Children Without Their Parents’ Consent.

Before you post a picture of your child’s birthday party and start tagging every single kid in the photos, make sure to first ask permission from their parents. Some parents might not mind having their kid’s photos posted online while others might do.

It’s really a matter of preference regarding personal privacy, especially when it comes to children. Just respect other parents’ policy on posting photos.

So to be safe, ask permission first especially since a lot of parents prefer not to have their kids names and photos posted on Facebook for privacy and security reasons.

“Everyone has their own positions on sharing their children’s faces on social media, so before you go posting and tagging away after a birthday party or field trip, be sure to respect the stances of the other families involved.” Source: PopSugar.com

So just ask other parents’ permission first.

You’ll be surprised how many parents will appreciate you asking them first about these types of matters.

Although innocently posted, these types of pictures could be misunderstood by some people. So be careful when posting nude or semi-nude photos of children. It’s just another measure to protect your children.

5. Your Child Doing Potty

Congratulations on your progress with your little one’s potty training! However, it’s advisable to keep these photos private.

While it’s wonderful to celebrate milestones, sharing such images could potentially lead to embarrassment for your child in the future. It’s best to refrain from posting them on social media.

Furthermore, not everyone really wants to know these details. Nancy Baym, principal researcher at Microsoft Research and author of Personal Connections in the Digital Age says that with excessive sharing,

“The risks are that parents may alienate readers who do not care about their kids’ details.”

Just share or post only when your child has some major milestones or achievements. Only share when it really counts.

By doing so, family and friends will take better notice of your posts.

4. Bath Photos or Nude Photos of Your Child.

Sure, bath tub photos of your child may look really cute and shareable. However, keep in mind that digital content can be easily copied and easily distributed. Having those pictures in the wrong hands is just not worth the risk. Even if the photos are totally innocent, the reality is that there are crazies out there.

Alex Brooks, executive editor of parenting website Kidspot says:

“Parents are discovering that once content becomes digital, it can be easily copied and redistributed willy-nilly. The result: photos of kids in compromising, colorful circumstances, and status updates recounting even more compromising, colorful circumstances, intended for a select few, are now spread out over the web for everyone.” Source: News.com.au

It absolutely is to you and your kid’s benefit to not have these types of photos posted on social media. It definitely is better to be on the safe side.

Just share these types of photos privately with your loved ones.

Besides, you don’t want your kid to be embarrassed with these types of pics, especially when they grow up, right?

Proud parents are usually guilty of posting pictures with information about where their kids go to.

I know, I know … we sometimes can’t help but be proud of our child’s achievement in school or where they go to school. If you are posting pictures of your kids in school, make sure to avoid sharing certain information.

3. Photos That Reveal Where Your Child Goes To School.

Of course, when we are excited to share something about a great accomplishment or award that our child got in school, we may tend to post them online without thinking about sharing too much information with people who may have some malicious intent.

Keep your child safe by ensuring that the photos do not include identifying information that might show where your child goes to school. Source: derrydaily.net

According to Kathy Simovska, National Manager Of Child Abuse Prevention Programmes at the child protection charity Child Wise, says:

“One of my concerns with posting personal information online is that we make it easier for child sex offenders to be able target children and find out more information than they could otherwise.”

This is what you should do:

“If you share photos of your children in the classroom or on school grounds, make sure that the name and/or features that distinguish its location are kept hidden.” Source: PopSugar.com

Again, this reminder is more out of concern for the safety of your kids.

Call me paranoid but I would rather keep my kids safe, most especially when I cannot be around them.

Sometimes, in your excitement, you end up posting photos of your kids with this info … Parents should be careful posting photos of their children with their full names shown. Such information can be used by identity thieves or by some really nasty people to abduct children.

2. Photos Showing Children’s Full Names.

You might say, “Duh, this is common sense.” There is no argument regarding that … However, some parents still do make this mistake in their haste and excitement to share photos of their kid’s accomplishments in school. Common sense is usually overcome by all the excitement and emotions.

Whether it be awards, report cards, certificates, sports jerseys, or that simple name tag in an event, just be reminded to pay a close attention to these when posting anything related to school photos.

According to Brian Gresko, a parent who has stopped writing about his parenting life as a result of a life-changing over sharenting incident:

“There are online stalkers as well, creeps who steal photos of children on Instagram and engage in virtual role playing, pretending that the children are their own. While this might not cause physical harm to you or your child, it is a violation — a sort of identity theft.”

Yes, child identity theft is a serious matter. With the advent of social media and the widespread access to digital information, child identity theft has been rising over the years.

Make sure to keep information about your child as private as possible. It will save you the trouble of having to deal with identity theft in the future.

Lastly, you might like to check with your child about this last type of photo … see next page.

If you think your child might be embarrassed and humiliated (now or in the future), just don’t post the photos. Once a photo is on the internet, anything can happen. So parents, think twice … even thrice.

1. Really Embarrassing Photos or Photos Showing Them When They Are Not At Their Best.

Keep in mind that decisions to share these types of photos may have consequences down the road. Sure, your kid might be a toddler now and might not think too much about these embarrassing photos. However, a few years from now, those photos can be cause for embarrassment.

Posting a child’s embarrassing photo can potentially make your child the target of jokes or cyberbullying. You wouldn’t like to put your child in that situation, right?

Sarah J. Clark, associate director of the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health, says decisions to share information can have consequences down the road:

“When you tell what you think is a hilarious anecdote, in a couple of years when the child is older, and a classmate stumbles upon it, it might be embarrassing. The idea is yes, your kid is 2, 3 or 4, but they won’t stay 2, 3 or 4.”

Here is something to think about: If you think that photos or posts of your child might embarrass them a few years down the road, just don’t post them.

“If a photo is embarrassing, unflattering, or seems like it should be private, then respect your child — ask them if they’re old enough — and keep it in the confines of your own photo library.” Source: PopSugar.com

As parents, our priority is to keep our kids safe at all times. However, there are times when we may tend to overlook certain safety measures in our excitement to share our children’s pictures.

Protecting your child’s privacy while showing you are being a proud parent on Facebook and other social media is definitely a balancing act. Just make sure that you are aware when you are crossing the line when it comes to sharing your child’s photos.

The bottom line is this: Make sure that you do not give away too much personal information about your child which could strip them of their privacy or at worst, put their safety at risk.

Have you knowingly or unknowingly shared a photo of your child that revealed too much info?

The post 6 Types Of Children’s Photos Which You Should Never Post Online appeared first on Oh My Parenting.

Warning signs and labels are there for a reason: To keep your child safe. Unfortunately, it might come as a surprise to you that a lot of people tend to still ignore these at the expense of their child’s safety.

As parents, the SAFETY of our children should be our top priority. However, why is it that some parents appear to not pay much attention to safety warnings?

Could it be the lack of awareness regarding safety standards? Could it be a sense of complacency that nothing bad could possibly happen?

Some people even reason out that making the extra effort for safety is just so inconvenient. Really?

Whatever the reasons are, the fact is … children are getting hurt. Some seriously. And unfortunately, some end up losing their lives.

Please DO NOT ignore these everyday warning signs and labels. Your child’s life is way too important to take chances with.

Here is the list of warning signs and labels every parent with a young child should not ignore. From shopping malls to the grocery stores, you will still find parents blatantly ignoring this warning sign right underneath their noses …

1. No Baby Car Seat on Shopping Cart Warning Sign. Although a voluntary shopping cart safety standard was implemented in the United States in 2004, the overall number and rate of injuries to children associated with shopping carts have not decreased. In fact, the number and rate of concussions/closed head injuries have continued to climb. Source: EurekaAlert.org

Baby car seats are NOT designed to be secured on top of shopping carts. The next time you use a shopping cart while doing groceries, check and see if there is a warning sign saying that baby car seats should not be placed on top of shopping carts. If you see a warning sign, just don’t do it.

Even the American Academy of Pediatrics highly recommends not to place baby car seats on shopping carts due to the potential dangers associated with the practice. Their recommendations are warranted given the risks and dangers of this common practice.

Shopping carts can tip over easily — and they’re more likely to if there’s a car seat mounted on them.

Debra Holtzman, who is also the author of The Safe Baby, adds:

The cart has a narrow wheel base in relation to its height, so the center of gravity is affected when you put a child in it,” she says. “When your child’s car seat is on top of it, the center of gravity is affected even more, increasing the chances of tipping. Source: TheBump.com

Also make sure to check the manual of your baby car seat and check the warning label to confirm that the car seat should not be used on shopping carts.

If your baby carrier manual warns you not to do it and the shopping cart you are using has the warning sign, then please DON’T place the baby carrier on top of the shopping cart.

The American Academy of Pediatrics highly recommends NOT to place car seats on shopping carts and suggests the following options:

Get another adult to come with you to watch your child while you shop.

Put your child in a stroller, wagon, or frontpack instead of in a shopping cart.

Ask your older child to walk and praise him or her for behaving and staying near you.

Leave your child at home with another adult while you shop.

Shop online if your store offers shopping on the Internet.

Never leave your child alone in a shopping cart.

Do not let your child stand up in a shopping cart.

Do not allow an older child to climb on the cart or push the cart with another child in it, because it is very easy for a child to tip the cart over.

Next time you go to the mall, you might like to observe if some parents pay attention to this warning sign.

There are still some parents who seem to not pay attention to these warning signs in shopping malls.

2. No Stroller on Elevator Warning Signs. Escalator manufacturers and building owners frequently place prominent signs near escalators warning riders not to board with strollers, walkers, or carts. Other accidents involving strollers include strollers being dropped down the escalator and strollers becoming entrapped with the escalator. Source: ElevatorAccident.net

There are very real dangers to boarding strollers on escalators such as this story, where a small child fell from a stroller while on the escalator.

A 2006 study on Pediatrics regarding escalator injuries found that there were “disproportionate amount of escalator related injuries in children who were younger than 5 years of age.” … The study found that 6% of injuries in this age group were from a stroller, usually from falling out of the stroller. Source: PediatricsNow.com

Solution: Simply take the extra time to use the elevator with your stroller as opposed to the escalator.

Are you sure you have your child buckled up properly?

You might like to check if you buckle up your kid properly next time you get in the car.

3. Car Seat Buckle Warning Labels. Car crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 13. In 2010, 655 children (under the age of 13 riding in cars and trucks) were killed in crashes. Of those killed, more than 1 in 3 were unrestrained … Research analyzed by Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center – a national leader in pediatric and adolescent medicine – shows that in the U.S., only 1 in 4 child car seats are properly installed. Source: BuckleUpForLife.org

Holly Wagner lost her 11-month old son Cameron after a car accident. Here is what she had to say:

If I could go back and change anything it would the lack of research I did on car seats. I would go to cert.safekids.org and find a tech local to me that could help install my seats and teach me how to use them the correct them. Before the accident I always made sure to strap the car seat down to the seat and always would buckle them all the way but I didn’t know all the little things … like how you’re not supposed to use after market products and how much safer rear facing is than forward facing.

Make sure to buckle up your child correctly. Spend a few minutes to watch the video below to learn more about how to properly buckle up your baby:

Safety labels with regards to having the appropriate car seat for your child is also very important. Did you know that most parents do not know when is the right time to move a child from a car booster seat to seat belt?

4. Booster Seat Warning Labels. Nine out of 10 parents of children ages 4 to 10 surveyed recently were found to have moved their children out of the booster seat before they were big enough, according to the Safe Kids Worldwide advocacy group. Seven out of 10 didn’t realize that children need to be at least 4-feet-9-inches and 80 to 100 pounds, the group said. Source: WashingtonPost.com

Most booster seat labels clearly show the minimum height and weight ranges for when kids should be able to move from a booster seat to seat belt.

According to CBSNews.com, car crashes are the leading cause of death for children older than 3 in the U.S. and cause another 179,000 child injuries each year. Using age and weight appropriate car seats is therefore really important to help reduce fatalities or serious injuries.

Kate Carr, president and CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide, says booster seats can reduce injuries by 45% over seat belt use alone.

If there were a crash and they weren’t in a booster seat, but just in a regular seat belt. They could suffer internal abdominal injuries or face or neck injuries caused by the belt tightening during the impact of the crash.

You would think it’s common sense that parents would know not to let kids do this. However, some parents allow their child to ride in the front seat in spite of the clear warning saying that this is extremely dangerous.

5. No Child In Car Front Seat Warning Label. Active seats belts and airbags are calibration sensitive and may be ineffective in protecting children. In fact, airbags (which explode out of a dash at up to 200 miles per hour) can be outright dangerous for infants and children. Source: Safety-Security-Crazy.com

The site Safety-Security-Crazy.com says that:

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration studied 3.3 million airbag deployments that occurred between 1990 and 2008. They concluded that airbags had saved over 6,400 lives. Unfortunately, airbags are thought to have caused 175 fatalities (104 were children) and many severe injuries.

According to the Department of Motor Vehicles, most states do not have a specific age wherein children can ride in the front seat. However, most states recommend that children ride in the back seat as long as possible. Keep in mind that airbags in the front seat are designed to protect average-sized adults and NOT children. These cannot provide adequate protection and in fact, can be extremely dangerous for small children.

Solution: Just have your child ride in the back seat as much as possible. If ever you are left no choice but to have your kid sit in the front seat, make sure that the airbag is set to “off”.

The next warning label is very much related to the above topic that we have just discussed. If your car has an active airbag, do not place a rear-facing car seat in the front seat.

6. No Baby Car Seat In Front Seat Warning Label. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highly recommends to never place a rear-facing car seat in the front passenger seat. A baby riding in the front seat, even though the seat is rear-facing, is simply dangerous as the baby can be fatally injured in the event that the passenger air bag is deployed in a collision.

As already mentioned in the previous section, airbags (which explode out of a dash at up to 200 miles per hour) can be outright dangerous for infants and children. Source: Safety-Security-Crazy.com

Solution: Always put your baby in a rear-facing child safety seat in the back seat of your car.

The next warning label has something to do with a simple everyday item that you have in your home.

Be aware that the simple plastic bag or other fine plastic films scattered around your house can be deadly to babies and young children.

7. Plastic Bag Suffocation Warning Labels. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has received an average of about 25 reports a year describing deaths to children who suffocated due to plastic bags. Almost 90% of them were under one year of age. Source: HelpKeepKidsSafe.org

According to CPSC, some of the deaths were attributed to situations wherein the baby crawled into a plastic garbage bag or when a child pulls a plastic dry-cleaning bag over their face. In some instances, a plastic garbage bag fell over the baby’s face and mouth while he/she was lying on a bed. Garbage bags also have also resulted to deaths when a baby climbed into them or rolled onto them while sleeping.

What you can do according to KidsHealth.org:

1. Never put an infant down on a mattress covered with plastic or on or near a plastic bag.

2. Promptly dispose of plastic shopping bags and plastic dry-cleaning bags. Tie several knots in each bag before throwing it out.

3. Keep all plastic bags, including garbage bags and sandwich-style plastic bags out of the reach of young kids.

4. When cleaning up after a birthday or holiday party, pay special attention to all plastic bags from packaging. Collect them and throw them out immediately.

The next warning label has something to do with things children love playing with.

Every child loves to play with toys. Just make sure to check the warning labels.

8. Toy Parts Choking Hazard Warning Labels. In 2011, 188,400 children under the age of 15 years were seen in emergency departments for toy-related injuries.That’s 516 kids every day. More than a third of those injured were children 5 and under. Source: SafeKids.org

Here’s what you can do: Be a toy label reader and make sure to buy toys which are age appropriate. Make sure to make your family aware that toys with small parts should not be left out where babies and toddlers could get their hands on them.

Here are other safety tips courtesy of SafeKids.org:

1. Consider your child’s age when purchasing a toy or game. It’s worth a second to read the instructions and warning labels to make sure it’s just right for your child.

2. Before you’ve settled on the perfect toy, check to make sure there aren’t any small parts or other potential choking hazards.

3. Keep a special eye on small game pieces that may be a choking hazard for young children. While these kinds of games are great for older kids, they can pose a potential danger for younger, curious siblings.

If you have babies, toddlers, and really young children in your house, you might like to be aware of this type of window blind …

Parents, please beware of corded window blinds …

9. Window Blinds Cord Warning Labels. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), an average of 10 children die every year from window-blinds-cord related accidents.

While not a product targeted toward children, window blinds are an example of a household product that needs to be carefully designed in order to prevent harm to children. Unfortunately, the failure of window blind manufacturers to take children into account has led to the serious injury or wrongful death of many infants and toddlers. Window blind cords hang too low, get wrapped around a child’s neck and cause the child to choke. Source: ChildSafetyIllinois.com

Not convinced yet? You can check out this story about a child who was strangled by a window-blind cord. Fortunately, the child survived.

Here’s what you can do to prevent accidents from window-blind cords according to Home Depot:

1. Raise all window cords out of a child’s reach

2. Move all cribs, beds, furniture and toys away from window cords

3. Inspect cord-stops for proper install and function

4. Permanently anchor continuous-loop cords to the wall

5. Update with a retrofit, safety kit, or replace older blinds with a cordless option

“If I Only Knew” …

Some people might say that these are all common sense. The reality is that what may be common sense to one parent might not be common sense to another. That is why we wrote this article just to spread awareness.

A child’s safety is more important than anything else. Just do not compromise safety for convenience. Always pay attention to safety labels and signs. They are there for a reason.

Let’s avoid hearing the words “If I only knew” from an anguished parent whose child was a victim of an unfortunate and preventable accident.

Please help create safety awareness by sharing this article with family and friends. Save a life by sharing this article. The life you save may be your child’s or someone close to you.

Again, let us all keep our children safe.

Are there any warning labels or signs that you are aware of that we should have included in this list?

The post 9 Safety Warning Signs & Labels Every Parent Should NOT Ignore. #1 Is Much Ignored appeared first on Oh My Parenting.

Been there. Done that. Considering all the craziness that comes with potty training, most parents usually want to get it over with. That’s what makes the whole experience a little stressful (of course that’s an understatement) for both parents and toddlers.

Potty training is a major milestone not just for a child but also for the parents. Most experts say that children show interest in potty training by age 2 but may not be ready until they are 2 1/2 years old or older.

Potty training is not something you should rush into. According to Dr.Tanya Remer Altmann (1):

“Children learn to use the toilet when they’re ready. The process shouldn’t be rushed.”

Indeed, some toddlers don’t learn how to potty right away. If this happens to your little one, you really shouldn’t worry because Dr. Altmann has this to add:

“No child is ever going to go to college in diapers.”

Those are wise and comforting words from Dr. Altmann. Hence, you can stop worrying about potty training when your kid goes off to college.

However, in the meantime, here are common “words of wisdom” from moms who survived the potty training phase of their children:

“Be patient. Be extra, extra patient.”

Just keep in mind that potty training takes time regardless of whether your child is a boy or a girl. It also involves, believe it or not, a lot of creativity and imagination on your part. Your job is to make your child understand that when they need to go, they must take action and do their business in the potty.

Here are the 12 tried and tested tips from moms who swear by them:

12. The Potty Is Your Friend.

Get them acquainted with the potty. If you don’t already have a potty chair, make a big deal out of picking it out at the store, let them choose which one they like. Maybe let them decorate it or play with it with a stuffed animal. Leave it in the bathroom for a few months before you are ready to train so they get used to it. (2)

By doing so, your child gets to be very familiar with the potty chair. The potty chair becomes your child’s friend and not something that appears intimidating.

In addition to getting your child really familiar with the potty, also keep this next tip in mind.

11. Location, Location, Location.

We found that the kiddie lids that go on top of the toilet were too intimidating to use right away. (Plus, since they usually need a step stool, it can take too long for children to reach the toilet in time.) So I started my 2-year-old daughter with a mini-Elmo potty seat, which we kept in the living room since she spent the most time there. We gradually moved it closer and closer to the bathroom and eventually worked our way up to a Dora seat that went right on top of the toilet. (3)

By the way, it also helps if you have your child pick their potty training toilet seats. These days, there are a wide assortment of seat colors and cartoon themes to choose from. It truly makes it more fun for your little one.

The power of motivation and fun prizes, when done right, can do the trick. Who does not like surprises? Why not motivate your toddler with some bag of surprises …

10. Use Treats and Surprises.

Our daughter wasn’t very consistent with toilet training until we introduced the surprise bag. We got a bunch of inexpensive toys and stickers and put them in a colorful gift bag. Every time she used the toilet, we would clap and tell her what a great job she did and let her pick one surprise out of the bag. We kept it up for about a week and a half, and when the surprises ran out she just kept on using the potty. We continued to praise her and she quickly forgot the surprise bag. I can honestly say that toilet training was painless and quick with this method, and I plan to use it again with my next child. (4)

You can be more creative and make a treasure chest or box with your child to make them really excited about the concept of going potty.

If some adults can fall for the next solution. Chances are that your child can fall for this too … The age-old bribe is another motivating way to get your child potty trained …

9. Bribery Works If It’s Done Right.

Here’s the trick with bribery, mamas. First, it has to be something that your kids like – not what you like. For instance, if your child’s favorite candy is M&Ms, then that’s the bribe. You may prefer them to be bribed with carrot sticks, but those are boring to our little ones. So make the bribe something they can’t resist. Second, the bribe candy has to be where they can see it, hear it, and know that, without a doubt, they’re going to receive it if they do their business in the potty. Rewards work wonders if they’re given at the right time. (5)

You can have variations of bribing like giving more M&Ms or some ice cream if your child takes the initiative to go potty without you having to remind him about it. Just be creative.

Some moms say boys are a little bit tougher to potty train than girls so if you have a little boy, you might like to try this next tip …

The next potty training tip for little boys is actually quite fun so go ahead and try it.

8. Target Practice.

Getting my son to learn the standing-up thing was hard, so we turned it into a game. I put five Cheerios in the potty and told him to aim at them when he peed. Every time he did it right, he got to pick out a prize from a bag of goodies I picked up at the dollar store. (6)

You can even use fruity Cheerios or Fruit Loops so that your child can also learn about colors. Have them pick the color that they want to target to get them more motivated.

Have you ever thought of Daddy to help out with the potty training? To make things move along much faster, why not ask Daddy to set an example?

7. Have Dad As Part Of The Team.

Sometimes, dads can work their magic to get your little ones to do things that moms can’t. Use this power of dad to your advantage — and this will be especially helpful if you’re training a boy since dad has what he has. This was the case in my house during our potty training venture. I could tell and ask my son to use the bathroom until I wanted to pull my hair out, when his father told him to try and go, he went in effortlessly. (7)

Hey Dad, how about you try to target some of those Fruity Cheerios and show your son how it’s done? That should be a great time to bond. 🙂

The next tip on the next page is actually not for everyone but a lot of moms do swear by this method.

If you decide to use this method, be aware of the risks … be ready to clean up the mess this might cause. However gross and risky this tip might be, believe or not, moms do swear by it for its effectiveness.

6. No Undies.

Well, I let them run around the house naked, and it helped them make the connection between ‘I’m peeing,’ and, ‘I’m making a mess.’ Sometimes when kids are wearing diapers or pull-ups they don’t notice or care that they’re peeing and pooping. Yes, I had to clean up messes, but it really helped solidify the connection. (8)

If you try the above-mentioned tip, hopefully it won’t be too messy. Just make sure to protect your carpet and your couch before doing it.

The next tip does not involve the risk of getting messy but requires tapping into your child’s imagination.

Children love stories so stir up their minds with some fascinating story telling skills which moms are usually good at.

5. Little White Lies.

My middle son was stubborn when it came to #2 on the potty — absolutely refused, no matter the reward. So I finally told him that when we flush, the poop goes out to the sea to feed the fish — so if he didn’t go, then the poor little fish wouldn’t have anything to eat. My son, being the compassionate, sensitive little do-gooder he is, felt it was his mission to poop to “save” the fish. (After all, Nemo and Dory were counting on him!). (9)

Of course, it really helps if your child loves Nemo or loves little fishies. I’m sure you can come up with some other spin to the feeding the fish story.

Now if you tried the M&M bribe and it does not work, maybe you are missing a little something to make that technique work.

Some children, believe it or not, lose interest in M&Ms or candies. The key is finding a bribe that your child is really obsessed with.

4. Find the Right Bribe.

We tried Cheerios, M&M’s, potty charts, cheerleader rants and screams, but nothing worked. My son has always been obsessed with cars and trucks and luckily, the movie Cars had just come out. My husband scoured the local stores to collect all the figurines featured in the movie. We saw the movie, then we told my son that every time he went potty he’d get a car. It was magical. After 15 cars, he was totally potty trained. I’m sure Disney would be so proud. (10)

For my little girl who had a fascination for little rubber duckies, this worked like gangbusters.

It did not take her long to get potty trained as long as she was getting her prizes of various colored rubber duckies.

From low-tech, old-school potty training tips, this next hi-tech gadget mesmerizes kids in the toilet. This small hi-tech gadget definitely brings potty training to the next level.

3. Mesmerize Your Little One With This “Hi-Tech” Gadget.

We tried all kinds of bribes. My child just won’t fall for them. Then I stumbled upon this interesting gadget. Sometimes certain gadgets are invented for some other purpose but it turns out they work better when used for potty training! This hilarious gadget was invented just to help adults find the toilet bowl at night. Well, as it turns out, it works well for potty training too.

My potty-training hi-tech gadget is the Motion-Activated LED Toilet Bowl Light.

How long did it take for my child to get potty trained? Less than a week!

I swear by this fascinating gadget. In fact, I learned that other parents swear by it too. The awesome thing is … this works for both little girls and boys.

This must-have, fascinating gadgetry brings the spectacle of the magic kingdom right in your very own toilet bowl. Kids LOVE it … and so do adults!

When activated by motion, the gadget produces a colorful light show in your toilet bowl that mesmerizes kids and potty-trains them in no time. From my experience, this gadget elevates potty training to the next level.

It’s portable and will easily pop off and wrap around any bowl. It also makes nighttime relief an excitingly fun and memorable experience for the whole family! Another bonus: It also helps Dad from missing the mark at night. LOL

In case you are interested in getting this for your family, I got mine from Amazon.com. For the price of a couple of McDonald’s Happy Meals, you get to potty train your child. Here’s the link to my Motion-Activated LED Toilet Light gadget of choice. Check it out.

Even my mother-in-law decided to get a couple to help, as she put it, “target train” my father-in-law. LOL

Potty training is a big deal to your little one so don’t be stingy on this next tip.

Make sure that you become your child’s biggest cheerleader and supporter.

2. Heap on the Praise.

I’ve heard all the tricks — stickers, bribing with toys, special underpants. But you have to pick something that’s consistent with your parenting style. I didn’t use rewards elsewhere, so I didn’t want to start here. What did work: Lots of undivided attention, positive reinforcement, love, affection and pride when my kids were successful. Making a big deal about small steps of progress is key. (11)

Even have grandma, grandpa, aunts, and uncles (okay aunts and uncles might be overdoing it) give your child a call for a job well done.

Aside from being the biggest cheerleader for your little one, here’s what most battle-toughened, potty-training moms would say.

Make sure to take this to heart:

1. Be Patient.

Usually, children begin showing interest between the ages of 2 and 3. Keep an eye out for common clues, such as your child asking questions about the bathroom and toilet, staying dry for longer periods of time (indicating stronger bladder control), wanting to wear “big kid” underwear, or telling you when she’s soiled a diaper.

These signs of readiness may intensify gradually or, as Wisconsin mom Tracy M. found, appear quite suddenly: “One day she walked up to me, about three months before she turned three, and said, ‘Mommy, I want to wear undies.’ And since that day she has.” (11)

Just remember that your child will potty train when they are ready. When it comes to potty training, each child is different so exercise patience.

When things go bad, just add some humor to the situation as your child will eventually get up to speed with his potty habits.

You too can survive potty training so long as you find the right trick to get it done. Keep in mind that what works for other kids might not work for yours.

You really shouldn’t compare and feel so bad if things aren’t working out so well for you and your toddler. You need all the patience in the world. At the same time, you need to decipher the best time to potty train your toddler. Only you can tell when it’s the right time. You should always keep these tried and tested tips in mind.

Thanks to the parents who have shared their tried and tested potty training tips. I’m sure you’ll find some use for them too.

Do you have a potty training tip you can share?

The post 12 Tried And Tested Potty Training Tips Moms Swear By. #3 Worked For Me appeared first on Oh My Parenting.

How could someone forget a child in a car? To forget a child in a hot car is preventable. Yet, every year, we always read or hear about heartbreaking and tragic stories of babies and toddlers who died as a result of their parents forgetting them in their cars.

In fact, heat stroke deaths of children forgotten in the car number to around 30 to 50 a year, or 38 a year on average, according to KidsAndCars.org, a nonprofit safety organization.

Although in certain cases, some of the parents have some history of neglect or knowingly leaving a child in the car, most of the other cases involve loving and attentive parents who simply forgot they have a child in the backseat of their car. This phenomenon, known as Forgotten Baby Syndrome (FBS), can happen to the best of us.

According to Amber Rollins, director of KidsAndCars.org, even loving parents can have moments of forgetfulness or FBS.

“People think that it is monsters or terrible parents, but this is happening to the most educated, responsible people … The No. 1 thing that we tell people is: ‘Don’t ever think that this can’t happen to you’.“

Be aware that every time a child is strapped in a rear-facing car seat in the backseat of your car, there is always a potential that you might forget your child. This also happens typically with younger children as they are usually asleep and not making any noise.

To prevent accidentally forgetting your child and avoid a tragic incident from happening, check out the must-know helpful tips to prevent forgetting a child in the car on the next page.

Here’s the list of 10 helpful tips to prevent forgetting a child in the car:

10. Place your handbag, briefcase, or cell phone in the backseat beside the baby.

Leaving something you routinely carry with you in and out of the car and placing these in the backseat is an excellent idea. You should not reach to grab it but make it a point to get out of the car to retrieve it. By doing so, you won’t help but notice your child in the backseat. This can help insure that you do not forget and leave your child in the car.

If you think you might still forget to grab your handbag, briefcase, or cell phone, then you might like to do this. Use something that you definitely cannot leave a car without. Note: This tip can only apply to people who drive automatic cars. Sorry, stick shift drivers.

9. Leave your left shoe in the backseat.

You might forget your purse, briefcase, or cell phone, but most likely, you won’t leave without your shoe. (1)

Aside from entertaining your child, stuffed animals can serve a life-saving purpose. A stuffed animal can be used as a reminder that you have your child with you in the backseat of the car.

8. The stuffed animal swap method.

Keep a stuffed animal in the car. When your baby is in the carseat, place the toy on the front passenger seat; when you remove the baby, put the animal in the carseat. This repetitive swap will indicate whether your baby is in the car. (2)

Treat your car like you treat your house.

Don’t you check the windows and doors of your house whenever you leave? Why not do the same with your car?

7. Always check the entire car before you leave (front and back).

The more you stick to a routine, the less likely it will be forgotten. (3)

If checking the front and back of your car is still not much of an active routine for you to do, then consider doing this instead … Take a more actionable routine whenever you leave your car after parking such as …

6. Always open the back door of your car every time you park.

By making this a habit, you can assure yourself that you are not forgetting your baby or toddler in case you have him or her with you.

If you carry a diaper bag with your baby when you leave the house, make sure that you do this with the diaper bag …

5. Leave the diaper bag in front.

This is a good suggestion to avoid forgetting the child in the back seat (child safety seat) of the car. So each time you put your child in the car, keep the diaper bag next to you on the front seat. You are likely to notice the diaper bag when you get off and will then not forget the child in the car. (4)

If your car can allow you to do this with the car seat, then place the car seat in the middle of the backseat …

4. Place your child’s car seat in the middle of the backseat rather than behind the driver.

When you set the car seat this way, it’s easier to see the kid. (5)

Changes in routine such as being assigned to drop-off your child in daycare when it’s not your normal route is one of the most common causes of FBS …

Avoid any distractions and make sure to keep yourself aware of such a change.

3. Be extra alert if your routine changes.

That’s when the risk of unintentionally leaving your child in your car increases. (6)

You might like to solicit the help of your child care provider …

Coordinate with your child care provider and have a system in place in case of a change in routine.

2. Set up a system with your child care provider.

Have them call you if your child has not been dropped off by her father, for example, on a day that mom would normally take the kid to child care. “It’s really important for you to put some things into place; even more so if you’re changing the routine,” says Joann Moss, injury prevention education coordinator with the Kohl’s Injury Prevention Program (KIPP) of Children’s Hospital of Michigan. (7)

Lastly, having a lot of distractions and stress have been major causes of FBS. Having your precious little cargo in the backseat should always be top priority in your mind. Minimize distractions and …

1. Be more “Present”.

Hold yourself accountable to be more aware so things like this do not happen. You can do this by making a conscious choice to interact with your children frequently when you are with them. Talk, sing, play, etc. Just do something other than nothing. (8)

Make it a point to discuss the topic of child hot-car fatalities with every person who drives your baby or toddler anywhere. This includes your family, relatives, grandparents, and babysitters.

Child safety expert and advocate Amber Rollins noted that saying to yourself ‘I would never forget my kids in the car’ is dangerous:

“This mindset creates a false sense of security. It can happen to any parent.”

Again accidentally forgetting your precious child can happen to anyone so please make sure to use any or a combination of the tips mentioned in this article to help prevent such a heartbreaking tragedy from ever happening to your family or friends.

Most importantly, if you ever see a child alone in a vehicle, call 911 immediately. If the child seems hot or seem sick, make sure to get them out as quickly as possible.

Let’s help prevent any more tragic deaths of children in hot cars. Please share this article with family and friends. The life you save may be your child’s, a family member’s child, or a friend’s child. Thanks.

Do you have other tips that you might like to share to prevent FBS from happening?

The post 10 Helpful Tips To Prevent Forgetting A Child In The Car. #5 Is My Routine appeared first on Oh My Parenting.

What? Parents having epic fails? No way! … Unfortunately (especially for their children), there continues to be proof that some parents do have some spells of … ahem … spaced out moments every now and then.

Call it a major lapse in decision-making which will make parents and even non-parents cringe, some of these epic parenting fails were caught on camera … Lucky for us! LOL

Of course we can give some parents some slack as you probably have also had your share of epic parenting fails (just hope they were not caught on camera!). However, some of the pictures you will see are really utterly shocking or unbelievably funny.

What were these parents thinking?!! It really makes you wonder whether some of these people are even fit to be parents.

Fortunately for some for the kids, they are still too young to realize what the hell is going on. However, for some of them, we can just hope that they won’t be traumatized and scarred for life.

Check out these unbearably cringeworthy parenting fails now.

Here’s what some moms really do while the baby is sleeping …

25. “I might as well have a sandwich break while the baby is fast asleep.”

A motorcycle + a dad + a baby in a stroller = this (see below). Seriously, who would have thought people would really do this.

24. “I got you, honey bun. We’re almost there.”

Would you ever let your toddler climb up an open refrigerator? Apparently, some parent did, ignored safety, and simply took a picture of the moment.

23. “Hey son, could you please get me some juice? It’s on the second highest shelf of the ref.”

The next picture shows another way to use strollers to watch a parade.

22. “Just sit tight little Bobby. You’ve got the best view from up here.”

Plan to visit a zoo. See what one father did to give his kid an up close look at racoons.

21. “Hey son, let me hold you upside down so that you can go feed the raccoons up close.”

Multi-tasking is an art form that is taken to the next level by this mom.

20.”Honey, while you are taking all four of us across town on the family motorcycle, let me just breast feed the baby.”

What would you do when it’s your turn on the skeet ball while you are babysitting?

19. “Sweetie, why don’t you just lie down there while I play an amazing game of skeet ball.”

Check out a great shot of a family strolling along a seaside park. You won’t believe what you’ll see ….

18. “How’s your ride going so far, son?”

I guess some moms are just clueless when it comes to strapping their toddlers to their backs.

17. “Mommy! Mommy! Your back sweat is suffocating me!”

It’s a great day for Slurpee! See what this mom did when she brought her kids to get some Slurpee.

16. “You just stay put there, sweetie. I need to help your sister with her Slurpee issues.”

The picture on the next page is proof that a child comes really handy when you need someone to help you hold a construction board for your other kid’s school project.

15. “Just hold the board tightly while I bike us back home.”

Sometimes your kid really needs to wash their hands no matter what, right.

14. “Alright. Go and wash your hands now! Why don’t you brush your teeth too while you’re at it.”

Babies are so cute. Sometimes they come in very handy in their own simple way.

13. “Momma, it’s not fair. I also want to be a laptop cushion just like little Bobby.”

A parent insists that his child gets his picture taken.

12. “Don’t be scared, Johnny. He doesn’t bite. Now … smile!”

This father got it all figured out when it comes to taking a picture and holding a toddler.

11. “Just stay put, little Rajeev. Let me just take a quick picture of your mom and sister.”

Talk about a family outing …

10. “Who says we need a van? We really should have asked grandpa to join us today.”

Parents love doing selfies even in the grossest of situations.

9. “Now give mommy a big smile.”

Some parents seem to be just so clueless about babies and wild animals.

8. “Aren’t those crocs so pretty from up close, little Tommy?”

What do you do when you have a tired child while shopping?

7. “Now you go sleep in our newly bought luggage while I go shop around.”

Traveling and airports can really be very tiring.

6. “Maggie seems to be comfortably sleeping so I’ll just wake her up when we get there.”

Biking in the park is a great way for a dad and kid to bond.

5. “Daddy, I just want to go home.”

What does a sexy dad do when he “thinks” he has the goods. Of course, flaunt it.

4. “I’m sexy and you know it.”

Sometimes parents just get carried away doing the groceries.

3. “Hold on there, Johnny. We’re almost done with the groceries.”

There are times when a child’s world also goes upside down …

2. “Now stop complaining. We’ll have you in your stroller in a second.”

We go from high tech baby strolling to low tech travel.

1. “Just a few more minutes and we’ll be home, son”

Apparently, parenting does not appear to be these parents’ cup of tea. We really wish all these kids the best of luck in the world.

Which of the parenting fails presented really caught your attention? Which one did you like best?

The post 25 Cringeworthy Epic Parenting Fails. #1 Is A “What The … ?! Moment appeared first on Oh My Parenting.